| It's Always Been You | Reddie Fanfic |

15

The sun pierced the skin of everyone around on this sunny day in September. No breeze or cloud to cool anyone off, and hardly any shadows. The pavement was near melting, even as far above the equator they were.

Some bonfires turned into rampant forest fires out in California, and south of Maine, which made the top headlines of the newspapers the past month. Everyday another fire and another issue for America made its way inside of the small town of Derry.

Meanwhile, history class was beginning and everyone was taking seats on the burning plastic that made their desks. The middle-aged teacher began attendance, shifting from name to name.

"Eddie Kaspbrak?" He called, looking up from his cork clipboard.

"Here!" A small boy raised his hand from the sketchbook in front of him. From the paper, you could see, there were two boys, one in a slim fit tank top with a flannel and baggy jeans; the other wearing denim overall shorts with a light striped t-shirt. Both were close, looking one another in the eyes, a loving look not seen by most at their age. The drawing was colorful and bright, nothing you would see from two men together in the way they were.

Another boy kinked his neck upwards, looking over at the boy named Eddie. Kaspbrak. Eddie Kaspbrak, weird last name. Sounds European, but not something from England. Kasp-brak... hmm, weird. The boy faded into thoughts about Eddie and his drawing.

"Beverly Marsh?"

A slim girl smiled, "here!" She whipped her hair over her shoulder and winked at a staring boy.

A few moments went by, "Richie Toe-zee-her?"

"Here, but it's Toe-jhure, don't really have a thing for toes though, a real shame." The class chuckled, including Eddie who was looking over at Richie now. What about a thing for hers though? The mini man asked himself, turning a cold red.

-

The day ended, and Bill ran up to Richie, who he was grouped with, Eddie carried close behind.

"R-Richie?" The boy in the hawaiian shirt turned to the side where the two now walked. "Ready t-to w-work? I have a f-few ideas on w-what t-to do." The boy choked out, moving his arms before letting his words flow.

"B-b-Bill spit it out, what ideas?" Richie joked, not getting much of a laugh from either of the other two boys.

The three slid into a picnic table bench, Bill and Eddie on one side and Richie on the other of the green, metallic table. The smallest boy accidentally kicked his partner under the table, in which Richie responded by tapping him back with both feet, shining a smile back. Eddie glared back and they began going back and forth playing with their feet, getting more extreme with each tap.

"A-are you t-two playing f-f-footsie?!" The boys exchanged an awkward look before stiffening their legs back under their seats. Both looked at Bill, shaking their small heads rapidly to avoid the suspicious look Bill was giving them.

"Ha! What do you think I am Bill? Gay?" Richie let out a forced laugh, looking over at Eddie, who wasn't laughing.

After a while of bantering, Bill went home, leaving Eddie and Richie alone at the table to figure out their project.

"I better go, my mom wouldn't want me out too late." The small freckled boy downed a third pill with his water.

Eddie began to get up, holding his hand to the bench to lift himself up. Richie looked up at him and reached his hand over to hold the other's boys before he could leave. "I think she could spare a few minutes, unless you're getting more drugs to take... or share?" He winked, flashing a boldly white smile.

The smaller boy didn't want to leave, and it was only 5:30 after all. "Shut up, these are actual pills you idiot. And no, I have to walk home and be home by six." Eddie exaggerated every single word he spoke using either facial expressions or dialect.

"I guess I'll have to just walk you home." Richie removed his hand from Eddie's and got up to reveal his standing about 4 inches taller. He gestured to the road ahead, "which way?"

The little boy stood for a second, surprised at the offer of walking home with the boy. He shook his small head and pointed to the right, "That way?" With that, they began walking, not knowing that a redheaded girl was just across the way, watching the two.

-

The next day in Derry fell upon the kids. Connor awoke Richie with a kiss to the forehead and softly cooing his name.

"Fuck." Richie groaned, looking up to peck Connor on the lips. "You have school again today."

A frown broke the taller boy's smile, "No- no, I'm not going back. Henry will be waiting there for me, I can't go."

"Well how the hell are you going to get an education to get out of here?" The slightly shorter boy slowly shuffled into his closet to throw on a dark wash pair of jeans and grey sweatshirt.

"You can teach me, at least for a little bit, until Henry calms down or whatever happens to him. Maybe by 10th grade I can go back?" Connor helped his boyfriend with his sweatshirt and hair.

"A whole year? Connor, that's crazy!" The boy spun around, "You can't just sit here forever and never go outside, that's like-" Richie thought for a moment, "That's like death before death!"

Connor sighed, grabbing both of Richie's hands, looking into his eyes. "It's safer Rich, please. It's only for a little while, I promise I'll go back." He bent his head downward and landed a solid kiss onto Richie's soft lips.

"How am I supposed to say no when you do stuff like that?" The boy pulled Connor in for another kiss, wrapping his arms around the boy's neck, breaking a smile. "Fine, you can stay home, but you have to promise to go back AT LEAST by senior year."

"Easy!"

-

And that's exactly what happened. Connor stayed at home without leaving for over a year. When Richie would get back, he would teach Connor everything. The losers accepted Connor and would invite him to movies or sleepovers, but would have to sneak him around at 3am for safety precautions.

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Word count - 1,066